Device for slide-shifting and winding twin vertical screens or blades

ABSTRACT

In a blind comprising a pair of vertical screens adapted to be rolled up or down on or from a winding drum, said screens consisting either of continuous sheets or of parallel blades adapted to be oriented to permit of controlling the ingress of air and light through the blind, in the closed or unrolled condition thereof, a device for producing the mutual lateral movement of said screens, this device comprising suspension means associated with the winding drum and operatively connected to the winding means whereby the operation of said winding means will both roll up the blind and cause the desired relative lateral movement of said screens.

United States Patent [451 Oct. 31, 1972 Froget [54] DEVICE FOR SLIDE-SHIFTING AND 2,970,643 2/ 1961 Adamslry; ..160/ 121 INDIN T I VERTICAL SCREEN 3 S N s FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 575,088 2/1946 Great Britain ..l60/85 N [72] Invent Fmget France 926,662 5/1963 Great Br1ta1n ..160/85 [73] Assignee: Griesser, Alpes Maritimes,

France Primary Examiner-Peter M. Caun [22] Filed: Dec 23 1969 Attorney-Linton & Linton [21] Appl. No.: 887,579 [57] ABSTRACT In a blind comprising a pair of vertical screens Foreign Application Priority Data adapted to be rolled up or down on or from a winding drum, said screens consisting either of continuous Dec. 30, 1968 France ..6818206l Sheets or of parallel blades adapted to be oriented to permit of controlling the ingress of air and light CCll through the blind, in the closed or umoned condition [58] Fieid 86 121 thereof, a device for producing the mutual lateral movement of said screens, this device comprising suspension means associated with the winding drum [56] References Cited and operatively connected to the winding means UNITED STATES PATENTS whereby the operation of said winding means will both 2 280 358 4/1942 g 0/ x roll up the blmd and cause the desired relative lateral 1e 1 t f 2,281,022 4/1942 Cavanaugh ..160/85 moveme Sal Screens 2,384,377 9/1945 Holstein ..160/85 5 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures TEN TEDHCT 1 I973 sum 2 BF 5 v 3 PIE FR PATENIEnuml 1912 3. 701 376 sum 3 [IF 5 INVQN TOR PIRRE FROGET A Tomvws PATENTEnnm 31 m2 SHEET 4 0F 5 INVEN OR T E S G Y 0 E R n F P z W ,3 A R E D- PATENTEDUBTSI m2 3.701.376

snmsurs 80 75 74 -gxzz 8182 2? 79 NVENTUI PIERRE FROGET B7 M 91K n-r-r kr frs DEVICE FOR SLIDE-SHIFIING AND WINDING l TWIN VERTICAL SCREENS OR BLADES This, invention is applicable to winding or roll-up blinds, or like articles. In many cases it is desirable to modify or adjust or discontinue the ingress of air and/or light through a blind, notably in the unrolled position thereof, and various means have already been proposed to this end. Some known devices of this character are designed for modifying the vertical relative position of one suspension means in relation to another suspension means so as to change the angular position of horizontal blades supported by said suspension means. Other structures consist in modifying also in the vertical direction the relative positions of a pair of parallel screens comprising apertured or transparent horizontal strips alternating with horizontal solid or opaque strips in order to produce an aperture when the apertured or transparent strips of both screens register with one another, and a closure when the apertured or transparent strips of onescreen register with solid or opaque strips of the other screen.

Now these known devices cannot provide the desired results unless these strips are distributed in a manner corresponding exactly to the relative movement obtainable by winding the blind, so that the mode of distribution of these strips is relatively limited. On the other hand, these known devices are objectionable in that they are subordinate to the diameter of the winding drum the rotation of which is to produce the desired vertical shift between the blades or strips of the paired screens.

It is the essential object of the present invention to remove the limitations imposed by the relative vertical shifting of a pair of associated screens or suspension members, and according to the present invention this object is attained by using two screens or suspension means laterally movable in relation to each other, that is, in the horizontal direction with respect to the general plane of the blind or screen, while producing this lateral maneuver and the winding maneuver by means of a single control system actuatable in various manners, for example by means of a pulley driven through a transmission strap or belt, or a cord, or if desired a winch. Each screen may comprise a set or sheet of vertically extending blades and each suspension means may support this screen, or this set or sheet, or alternately one of the two edges of vertical pivoting blades. The relative lateral movement permits of covering or occulting the apertured or transparent portions.

The lateral movement may be applied to only one of said screens or suspension means, or to both, for example in opposite directions in orderto reduce the move ment to be effected by each element for producing the desired total relative movement.

This lateral movement may be exerted either on the member provided for securing the laterally shiftable screen or suspension means to the winding drum, or on an upper portion of said screen or suspension means which is somewhat spaced from the drum. The control ofthis movement is based on the motion produced when rolling up a blind, such as the rotation of the winding drum or the upward movement of the blind itself, for example by using either ramp means or cam faces along which an element of said screen or suspen-' sion means to be shifted is laterally displaceable, or a horizontal-screw device driving laterally a nut or like member rigid with the portion to be moved before or during the driving of said blind for winding up same.

In order to afford a clearer understanding of this invention, reference will now be made to the attached drawing illustrating diagrammatically by way of example a few typical forms of embodiment thereof.

In the drawing:

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate in front elevational view and in vertical cross-section a winding device constituting an application of the principle of this invention, wherein the lateral movement or shifting is controlled manually;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, which show the means for producing a lateral shifting movement by winding laterally offset suspension means;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are detail views showing in front elevational view and in cross section respectively the means contemplated for producing a lateral sliding shifting movement of suspension members engaging helical grooves formed in a winding drum;

FIGS. 7 and 8 show similarly to the preceding FIGS. 5 and 6 the manner of obtaining a lateral movement by screwing a suspension member on an axial rotary screw mounted within the winding drum 1;

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate another method of obtaining a lateral movement by the engagement of a nutforming suspension member on an axial screw-rod in conjunction with a lateral displacement of the winding drum;

FIGS. 1 1 and 12 illustrate a device based on the same principle as the device of FIGS. 6 and 7 but producing reverse movements of the paired screens.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawing, the upper portion of a blind with its winding drum are shown in front elevational view, and FIG. 2 shows the same assembly in vertical cross-section. The blind comprises a pair of parallel screens 1, 2 and the screen 1 is secured to the winding drum 3 by means of a fixed suspension strip 4; the other screen 2 narrower than screen 1 is secured by being clamped between a pair of strips 5, 6 secured to an inner slide 7 for example by means of radial studs 8 extending through a slot 9 formed in the wall of the tubular winding drum 3, along one generatrix thereof so as to permit a horizontal sliding movement of the suspension device 5, 6, 7 and 8. In the drawing there is shown at 10 the support for the drum 3 and the driving means of this drum are shown only diagrammatically in the form of a strap or belt 1 1 passed over a pulley 12 rigid with one end of the drum 3, but it will be readily understood by those conversant with the art that any other driving means may be provided to this end, for example a winch. In this example it is assumed that the lateralshifting of the screen 2 in relation to the other screen 1 is obtained manually, in the unwound condition of the blind, by simply causing the device 5 to 8 to slide in order to bring, say, the solid or opaque vertical blades of one screen in registration with apertured or transparent vertical blades of the other screen for producing the desired occultation.

In the example illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawing which show the upper portion of a blind according to this invention, in front view and vertical cross-section, respectively, it is assumed that the blind consists of a pair of screens 15, 16, wherein the screen is attached to the winding drum 17 actuated on its support 18 by means of an end winch 19. An upper bar 20 of screen 16 is supported at each suspension point by a pair of flexible members 21, 22 attached by a strip 23 to the drum 17 at points 24, 25 off-set in the axial direction of this drum and adapted to be wound in the opposite direction about the drum 17.

If the drum position is such that the two flexible members 21, 22 are equally tensioned, the points 26 whereat the bar 20 of screen 16 is suspended will assume by gravity an intermediate position between the corresponding points 24 and 25. However, the rotation of drum 17 in one or the other direction will tension one of the pair of flexible members 21, 22 while releasing or slackening the other, whereby each point 26 will tendto be shifted laterally so as to assume a position in which it is plumb to the securing points 24 or 25 according to the direction of rotation of the drum, the corresponding flexible suspension member 21 or 22 assuming a vertical direction. From this position, con-v tinuing the drum rotation will cause the two screens 15, 16 to be wound in the relative shifted position corresponding to the winding direction.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 there is shown similarly one portion of the winding drum supporting a blind comprising two screens 27 and 28. Screen 27 is rigid with a compound suspension member 29 carried by rings 30 provided with inner shoes 31 and rotatable on a sleeve 32 rigid with the drum and formed with circular grooves 33 adapted to receive said shoes 31. Thus, the drum 34 can be rotated to a certain extent before the screen 27 begins to move, for its suspension member 29 remains at the bottom point of the winding drum by gravity.

The screen 28 is attached to a suspension member 35 rigid with rings 36 formed with inner shoes 37 engaging a helical groove 38 of sleeve 32, whereby the drum rotation causing the rotation of this sleeve 32 will cause a lateral movement of rings 36 until one of these rings engages a suitable stop shown diagrammatically at 39, whereafter continuing the drum rotation will wind both screens.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, a screen 40 is secured to the winding drum 41 by means of any suitable suspension member such as 42, without any lateral displacement, and the other screen 43 is maintained by another suspension member 44 secured in turn to a nut-forming sliding member 45 mounted within the drum 41 and en gaging a rotary axial screw rod 47 driven through suitable means such as a winch 48. The nut 45 adapted to slide without rotating within the drum in which it is guided is secured to said member 44 by means of a radial screw 49 extending through a slot formed along one generatrix of the drum wall. At the end of its permissible stroke the sliding nut 45 abuts against end pieces 50 rigid with the drum, so that this nut 45 cannot move laterally beyond this end position and continuing the rotation of the screw rod 47 will cause the drum 41 to rotate and thus roll up the blind, due to the provision of intermeshing dogs on said nut member 45 and said end pieces 50.

Instead of securing the member 44 supporting the laterally movable screen to the nut 45, a similar arrangement could be used wherein the nut would exert a thrust against the device 44 in one direction and be returned by spring means in the opposite direction.

In the arrangement shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 12 and 10, the screen 51 is attached to the winding drum 52 and the associated screen 53 is secured to a suspension member 54 retained in the lateral direction for example by being secured to a ring 55 clamped between a pair of collars 56 and 57 of a sleeve 58, so that this associated screen 53 cannot move laterally. In contrast thereto, the winding drum 52 is rigid with an inner nut-forming ring 59 engaging a rotary axial screw rod 60 and can thus move laterally until this nut 59 provided with dog means engages an abutment member 61 rigid for example with the sleeve 58 and provided with corresponding dog means. This engagement then causes the rotation of the winding assembly comprising the drum 52 and sleeve 58.

In the alternate form of embodiment illustrated diagrammatically in FIGS. 11 and 12, the screen 71 is attached to the suspension member 72 secured by a screw 73 to a ring 74 housed within the drum 75, the other screen 76 being attached to another suspension member 77 secured in a similar fashion to an inner ring 78. The two rings 74 and 78 are internally screwthreaded to constitute nuts but have opposite pitches so that when a corresponding screw rod 79 on which these nuts are engaged is rotated these nuts are translated in opposite directions. At the end of their lateral stroke these rings engage mechanical stops such as 80, 81, 82, and 83 rigid with the drum to cause the rotation of the drum assembly and thus roll up the paired screens 71, 76.

Alternately, one of the nut-forming, laterally movable rings 74, 78 may be secured to the winding drum which would thus move laterally in a direction opposite to that of the screen associated with the other ring.

It will readily occur to those conversant with the art that the few exemplary forms of embodiment given hereinabove and illustrated in the drawing should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention since various means for causing the lateral relative shifting of one or two screens or screen suspension means may be combined with various blind winding means without departing from the basic principles of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A blind comprising a pair of independent screens each consisting of a continuous sheet having longitudinally disposed apertures therein, a rotatably supported drum for the rolling of said pair of screens, a pair of suspension means connected to said drum and each suspension means being connected to one of said screens for supporting said screens in superposed vertical relationship, one of said suspension means being a slider slideably connected to said drum for movement in the direction of the axis of said drum.

2. A blind as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drum has a longitudinal slot and said slider connected to one of said screens is slideably positioned through said slot whereby said slider and its connected screen can be manually moved laterally of the other of said screens and means are provided for rotating said drum and thereby winding and unwinding said screens relative to said drum.

3. A blind as claimed in claim 1, wherein a sleeve is fixed to said drum and has a helical groove, said slider is a ring and has a shoe extending through said helical groove, said sleeve also has a circular groove, the suspension means of the other of said screens consists of a second ring rotatably mounted on said sleeve and has a shoe extending through said sleeve circular groove, and means is provided for rotating said drum and thereby said sleeve whereby said screens can be wound or unwound on said rings while said slider and its attached screen is moved laterally of the other screen.

4. A blind as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drum is hollow and has a longitudinal slot, an internal screw rod extends longitudinally in said drum and is fixedly connected thereto, said slider consists of a nut mounted in threaded engagement with said rod, and means extends through said drum slot and is connected to said nut and to the screen attached to said nut, means are provided for rotating said drum and said screw rod whereby said nut and its connected screen are moved laterally during the winding and unwinding of said screens relative to said drum.

5. A blind as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drum is tubular and one of the suspension means is fixedly connected thereto, a rotatably driven screw rod extends in said drum, a nut is fixedly mounted in said drum and is mounted on said screw rod in threaded engagement therewith and said slider consists of rings fixedly retained on said screw rod and having one screen attached thereto, in order that when rotating the drum said slider presents a relative lateral. movement in relation to said drum. 

1. A blind comprising a pair of independent screens each consisting of a continuous sheet having longitudinally disposed apertures therein, a rotatably supported drum for the rolling of said pair of screens, a pair of suspension means connected to said drum and each suspension means being connected to one of said screens for supporting said screens in superposed vertical relationship, one of said suspension means being a slider slideably connected to said drum for movement in the direction of the axis of said drum.
 2. A blind as claimed in claim 1 wherein said drum has a longitudinal slot and said slider connected to one of said screens is slideably positioned through said slot whereby said slider and its connected screen can be manually moved laterally of the other of said screens and means are provided for rotating said drum and thereby winding and unwinding said screens relative to said drum.
 3. A blind as claimed in claim 1, wherein a sleeve is fixed to said drum and has a helical groove, said slider is a ring and has a shoe extending through said helical groove, said sleeve also has a circular groove, the suspension means of the other of said screens consists of a second ring rotatably mounted on said sleeve and has a shoe extending through said sleeve circular groove, and means is provided for rotating said drum and thereby said sleeve whereby said screens can be wound or unwound on said rings while said slider and its attached screen is moved laterally of the other screen.
 4. A blind as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drum is hollow and has a longitudinal slot, an internal screw rod extends longitudinally in said drum and is fixedly connected thereto, said slider consists of a nut mounted in threaded engagement with said rod, and means extends through said drum slot and is connected to said nut and to the screen attached to said nut, means are provided for rotating said drum and said screw rod whereby said nut and its connected screen are moved laterally during the winding and unwinding of said screens relative to said drum.
 5. A blind as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drum is tubular and one of the suspension means is fixedly connected thereto, a rotatably driven screw rod extends in said drum, a nut is fixedly mounted in said drum and is mounted on said screw rod in threaded engagement therewith and said slider consists of rings fixedly retained on said screw rod and having one screen attached thereto, in order that when rotating The drum said slider presents a relative lateral movement in relation to said drum. 